Eddie Meyer quote graphic with blue background and white and yellow text that reads: "This ordinance helps protect basic constitutional rights for everyone who lives in, works in, or accesses San Diego County services or facilities."

ACLU-SDIC Testimony – San Diego County Board of Supervisors Considers CLEAR Ordinance

The following testimony outlines the ACLU-SDIC's support for the Civil Liberties Enforcement and Accountability Rules (CLEAR) Ordinance. This testimony was delivered before the San Diego County Board of Supervisors by ACLU-SDIC Immigrants' Rights Senior Policy Advocate on January 13, 2026.

By Eddie Meyer

Latest Press Release


ACLU-SDIC Launches EmpowerEd: A Three-Track Public Education Series

Amid ongoing federal actions affecting civil rights nationwide, the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLU-SDIC) is launching EmpowerEd: an educational series that provides the public with information on their rights, advocacy tools, and knowledge about existing laws and systems. 
Placeholder image

More from the Press


Placeholder image

Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Blue background with white and yellow quote text reads "San Diegans don't need more watchful eyes, they need a helping hand. We urge the San Diego City Council to end the contract with Flock Safety." Quote by Blair Overstreet Central San Diego Organizer ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

ACLU-SDIC Testimony – San Diego City Council Considers Whether to Continue Surveillance Use Policies

The following testimony outlines the ACLU-SDIC's opposition to the San Diego City Council continuing the city's contract with Flock Safety. This testimony was delivered before the San Diego City Council by ACLU-SDIC Central San Diego Organizer Blair Overstreet on December 9, 2025.

By Blair Overstreet

Quote graphic of Brisa Velazquez, ACLU-SDIC immigrants' rights staff attorney

ACLU-SDIC Testimony – San Diego County Board of Supervisors Considers Drafting CLEAR Ordinance

The following testimony outlines the ACLU-SDIC's support for drafting the Civil Liberties Enforcement and Accountability Rules (CLEAR) Ordinance. This testimony was delivered before the San Diego County Board of Supervisors by ACLU-SDIC Staff Attorney Brisa Velazquez October 21, 2025.

By Brisa Velazquez

Brisa Velazquez quote

ACLU-SDIC Testimony – San Diego City Council Considers Due Process & Safety Ordinance

The following testimony outlines the ACLU-SDIC's support for the Due Process & Safety Ordinance proposed. This testimony was delivered before the San Diego City Council by ACLU-SDIC Immigrants' Rights Staff Attorney Brisa Velazquez October 20, 2025.

By Brisa Velazquez

Fighting for Marriage Fairness

When gay and lesbian couples are denied the protections that come with marriage, they and their families suffer. One of the best things you can do to advocate for the ability for same-sex couples in your community to marry is to talk to someone who may be on the fence about it.

A new video website,10Couples.org, is a great tool to begin that conversation. It features streaming videos of ten gay and lesbian couples from across the country talking about their relationships and explaining how marriage is necessary for them and their families.

The site also features other helpful resources for taking action, such as a map highlighting the states where marriage fights are most critical, information on how to get involved in your own state, and links to information provided by organizations that are fighting for marriage protections. Additionally, the videos are available on YouTube.com.

The ACLU teamed with Emmy-award winning production company Public Interest to create the site. Campaign partners include the Equality Federation, Freedom to Marry, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) Lambda Legal and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Placeholder image

Legendary Attorney Tom Homann

On the Fight for LGBTQ Rights in San Diego . . .

“Locally, there is virtually no other organization that has consistently litigated the whole range of gay and lesbian issues and supported our cause whenever we needed help, other than the ACLU. . . . In San Diego the ACLU has been the only story in town as far as legal action to protect our rights. I think that the history of the ACLU will show that they’ve been vigorous and generally pretty successful for us. I think it’s an absolutely critical organization for our continued progress.”

Tom Homann
After whom San Diego's LGBT Bar Association was Named
In an Interview with The San Diego Gay Times

Tom Homann Law Association
http://www.thla.org/about/

Placeholder image

San Diego Juvenile Detention Facilities

Placeholder image

Additional Resources

Placeholder image

Resources for Immigrant Students

Our friends at Equality Alliance prepared a list of resources available to AB 540/Immigrant Students. It's a terrific list that provides links to information about college admission, California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Requests, scholarships, and University AB 540 Resource Guides.

Please visit Equality Alliance and San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium for more helpful information about immigrants' rights and education equality.

Placeholder image

Happy Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Placeholder image

Infomación en Epañol

Placeholder image

Conozca sus Derechos

Que hacer si...

...Agentes de migración o de la policía lo detienen mientras camina

...Agentes de migración o de la policía vienen a su hogar

...Agentes de migración o de la policía detienen su auto.

Clic en el folleto abajo, imprímalo hacia fuera, y llévelo con usted para asegurarse de que usted sabe qué hacer si las autoridades le para.

Placeholder image

Acerca de la Union Americana de Libertades Civiles (ACLU)

La Unión Americana de Libertades Civiles (ACLU) es el guardián de libertad en nuestro país que trabaja día a día en las cortes, en las legislaturas y en comunidades para defender y preservar los derechos y garantías individuales que la Constitución y las leyes de Estados Unidos garantizan a todas las personas.

En 1920, cuando se fundó el ACLU por Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver y otros, las libertades civiles estaban en muy mal estado. Los activistas eran arrojados a la cárcel sin esperanza alguna por el solo hecho de distribuir literatura contra la guerra. Gente nacida en el extranjero, sospechosa de radicalismo político era sujeta a deportaciones sumarias. La segregación racial era la ley aceptada, y la violencia en contra de los afro-americanos, sancionada por el Estado era rutinaria. Los derechos Constitucionales para los homosexuales, los pobres y muchos otros grupos eran practicamente impensables. Además, la Suprema Corte de Estados Unidos no había aprobado tadavía una sola demanda sobre la libertad de expresión bajo la Primera Enmienda.

Desde se fundación en 1920 la organizacion no partidista y sin fines de lucro, ACLU, ha ido creciendo de una sala repleta de defensores de los derechos civiles a una organización de casi 300,000 miembros y seguidores con oficinas en casi todos los estados de la república. La ACLU también ha mantenido desde su fundación que los derechos civiles deben de ser respetados, inclusive en tiempos de estado de emergencia nacional. Para defender esta posición, la ACLU ha comparecido frente a la Suprema Corte, así como otras cortes federales en numerosas ocasiones como abogados defensores titulares o a través de expedientes legales.

La misión de la ACLU es luchar en contra de las violaciones a los derechos civiles en donde sea y cuando sea que ocurran. La mayoría de nuestros clientes son gente común y corriente que ha sufrido una injusticia y ha decidido defenderse. La ACLU también trabaja activamente en nuestras capitales estatales, luchando por asegurar que la Declaración de los Derechos Civiles sea más que una simple "barrera de pergamino" en contra de la opresión y la tiranía de la mayoría.

La ACLU es apoyada por cuotas y contribuciones anuales de sus miembros, además de donaciones de fundaciones privadas e individuos. No recibimos ningún tipo de financiamiento gubernamental.

Placeholder image